Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

October was Mental Health Month, which is an opportunity for every one of us to reflect on the importance of mental health care, access, dignity and hope in every Australian community. In the electorate of Spence these words carry meaning, because we are delivering the services that our community has asked for. They are services that are saving lives, supporting families and reaching people earlier—before crisis sets in.

This government, this parliament and this community understand that mental health care is not a luxury; it is a core part of our health system, and a foundation of a fair and caring society. That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering more mental health care in the part of the community where people live, work, study and raise families. We made a historic commitment of $1.1 billion at the last election to deliver free walk-in mental health services across the country and to build mental health systems that meet people where they are no matter their postcode, age or income. This funding supports new and expanded services across the full lifespan, from early childhood through adolescence into parenthood and beyond. It is a vision backed by action. Nowhere is that clearer than in my electorate.

In the northern suburbs we have delivered the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, located in the heart of Elizabeth. This service offers free walk-in mental health support seven days a week, with extended hours—no appointment, no referral and no gap fees. It brings together a multidisciplinary team—psychologists and social workers, mental health workers and peer workers—all working together to provide wraparound care. People in crisis can walk through the door and know they will be treated with dignity, compassion and professionalism, people like Ruth, who said, 'I'm 55 and I cannot thank Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre enough. I was listened to and supported with no judgement, and talked with a peer worker with lived experience. I finally found a place for me. They get me and they understand me.' That is what community based care looks like and that is what our government is delivering, but we didn't stop there.

Mental Health Month is also Youth Mental Health Month, and I'm proud to confirm in this place that Gawler will soon have its own Headspace service. The Gawler Headspace centre will open its doors in coming weeks, so stay tuned closely for that announcement. This is a major win for young people across the Gawler region and is something the community has fought for for many years. Young people aged 12 to 25 will now be able to access support for the mental health and wellbeing free of charge and close to home. They won't need to travel to the city or wait in long queues or pay out-of-pocket gap fees for basic support. Most importantly, they will be able to walk into a service that understands them, listens to them and provides tailored help.

We also continue to support Headspace Edinburgh North, another vital part of our youth mental health system. On Headspace Day, 9 October, we announced another $275,000 in funding for the Edinburgh North site to upgrade facilities, improve accessibility and enhance IT capacity. That investment will ensure the service remains modern, fit for purpose and able to respond to increasing demand. It sends a clear message that we don't just open centres and walk away; we continue to support and strengthen them over time.

Supporting the next generation means supporting new and expectant parents, because the mental health journey begins well before birth. That's why I'm proud that Elizabeth will be home to one of Australia's new perinatal mental health centres. These centres are purpose-built to support new and expectant mums and dads during what can be a beautiful but vulnerable time. Many parents experience as anxiety, depression or emotional distress during the perinatal period, and they often feel isolated, guilty or unsure where to turn. Our perinatal mental health centre in Elizabeth will provide that support in a welcoming, nonjudgemental way.

All of this reflects a broader commitment to mental health system that is free, local, accessible and compassionate. Across the country we are delivering 91 Medicare Mental Health Centres for walk-in multidisciplinary care, 20 perinatal mental health centres including Elizabeth, 17 mental health kids hubs providing emotional and behavioural support for children, and 203 Headspace services supporting the mental wellbeing of young people aged 12 to 25.

But we know the future of mental health also lies in early intervention. That's why from early next year we will launch a new national early intervention service. This will provide free phone and online mental health support staffed by trained professionals for people experiencing distress, anxiety or early signs of illness. It is expected to support more than 150,000 Australians a year. It will fill a gap between prevention and crisis, offering care at the first sign of struggle. This model reflects modern life, where people need flexible access to care—after hours, online and without barriers. It's about meeting Australians where they are and making it as easy as possible for them to get help.

We also know that more access requires more people. That's why we're investing in the mental health workforce across every level of the system. That includes over 4,000 scholarships, internships and training places for psychology students to build the next generation of clinicians. It includes investing in social workers, occupational therapists, peer workers and GPs, to make sure every professional has the tools and training they need. And it includes valuing lived experience—not as an afterthought, but as a vital part of recovery and care.

Next year, we will establish a Peer Workforce Association, to recognise, professionalise and support the peer workforce across Australia. We'll also conduct the first-ever census of the peer workforce, to better understand how to support and expand this vital group, because someone who's been through the system and knows what it feels like to struggle can offer something powerful: empathy, trust, and hope. That word 'hope' is at the heart of everything we're doing: hope for young people who feel like the walls are closing in; hope for parents who don't know how to support their child; hope for workers managing stress, burnout or trauma; hope for men who feel they have no-one to talk to, and for women who carry too much, too silently—hope that if you reach out there'll be someone there to listen to you.

This month, many Australians will grow a moustache for Movember, to raise awareness of men's mental health, suicide prevention and early intervention. It's a reminder that behind every face is a story, a struggle and a community. Initiatives like Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Kids Helpline and 13YARN also play a vital role in helping people to stay connected and supported. But our job as a parliament is to ensure that government does its part too, by investing in services before crisis strikes and reducing wait times; eliminating gap fees and making help easier to access; building a system that is community based, culturally safe and evidence-informed; supporting First Nations led mental health services, because the journey to healing must be grounded in voice, culture and self-determination; continuing to listen to young people, parents, clinicians and those with lived experience; treating mental health not as a line item in a budget but as a fundamental component of Australia's social fabric; and embedding mental health care into our health system in the same way we do for physical injuries or chronic disease—because mental health is health and because no Australian should ever feel alone, ashamed or unsupported when they're doing it tough.

In the north, we're showing what it means to put these words into action. We've opened new doors in Elizabeth, Gawler and Edinburgh North, where we're creating new pathways for young people, for parents and for those who just need someone to talk to. We're investing in new futures, where care is accessible, recovery is possible and support is never out of reach. That's the difference good government makes. That's what it means to strengthen Medicare and restore integrity to our mental health system and that's what we will continue to deliver, not just during Mental Health Month but every day.

I commend our government's work and reaffirm our shared commitment to the mental health of every Australian in every corner of the country. Don't forget to check in on your friends and family, but, most importantly, don't forget to check in on yourself and give yourself the care you might need to feel okay.

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